Verified [Verified] denotes information that has been published with confirmation of its owing parties.
The park is centered around the palace where emperors have lived for more than 500 years.
The premises has the Kyoto Imperial Palace at the center in which Meiji Emperor lived until he moved to Edo, surrounded by the town where the homes of aristocrats lined up. In Meiji Period, the premises were turned into the Kyoto Gyoen Park. Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto Sento Imperial Palace are still used by the imperial families.
Kyoto became a capital city when Emperor Kanmu built Heian-kyo in 794. Before then, the imperial palace was further west. It was moved to the current location when Emperor Kogon of the northern kingdom was enthroned in the 13th century. Through the Battle of Onin and passage of time, the palace became dilapidated, then Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi helped repair it. In Edo Period, homes of aristocrats were back in the surrounding neighborhood. The current architecture such as Shishinden Hall was rebuilt at the end of Edo Period according to the ancient style, which has been open to the public since 2016. No need to make a reservation for a tour.
Kyoto Omiya Palace and Kyoto Sento Imperial palace were built next to the imperial palace as residences for emperors and empresses. The tour in these halls requires a reservation. although most of the architecture in the palace premises were removed, the aristocrat, Kujo Family’s elegant tea house, Shusui Tei, still remains.
From the front to the back: Kenreimon Gate, the white yard, Shishinden Hall. The imperial family’s residences in the rear ©Imperial Household Agency Kyoto Office
Shishinden where Emperors Meiji, Taisho and Showa were enthroned ©Imperial Household Agency Kyoto Office
Seisho-mon gate, used for kitchen needs, is now a gate into the palace for tourists ©Imperial Household Agency Kyoto Office
Kyoto Sento Imperial Palace has a beautiful garden with a bridge and tea house ©Imperial Household Agency Kyoto Office
Shusui Tei and Kujo Pond estimated to have been built in late Edo Period ©Ministry of the Environment, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden Office
Hamaguri-gomon Gate, opened for the first time during the big fire in Edo Period ©Ministry of the Environment, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden Office
承明門，終於來了～～～！
超大的皇宮庭園，各個地方都弄得很整齊乾淨。
日本天皇在京都的住所，採取開放式管理一般人都可入場。
好大的一個地方，走了兩三個小時都還沒有完整逛完，下次有機會再來。
京都櫻花開的很美的場所，枝垂櫻特別漂亮。
